"You went above and beyond the call of duty"—John Mosley, Kaufman TX
What the Tours Don't Tell You
     
Tour operators/agencies don't work for free. Someone has to pay—and that someone is YOU. While the operators imply that someone else is paying the freight through discounts, that's simply not true. If you have any doubt about that, see my "Analysis of a Tour Offering."

You're kidding! Just Walk on at St. Andrews?

That's right. As a single golfer, you have a good chance of getting a tee time at St. Andrews on the spot. Just present yourself to the starter and get in queue. Odds are you'll get a tee time on the Old Course, especially in the late spring and early autumn. If they're full up, you can go to one of the neighboring courses and still have a great St. Andrews experience. Try the Old Course again the next day and/or team up with another single and put your names into the well-known daily ballot by 2 p.m. for play the next day (about fifty percent of all slots are filled by the ballot). You can play the Old Course without booking a year in advance and without buying an overpriced package from a tour operator. That's the kind of valuable information and guidance you'll get when you work with Ferguson Golf. Photo byAllan Ferguson.

  Including eight ways to get on the Old Course at St. Andrews!
Quality accommodations don't have to cost $100-200+ per person per night. That's the typical dollar range for lodging on the package tours. Believe me, you can stay at a "quality B & B" or an "elegant country house" for less than $100-200 per person per night. I'll direct you to a wide range of choices.
Most tee times do not have to be prepaid. Some major courses require 100% prepayment (e.g., Carnoustie, Muirfield, St. Andrews). But most courses charge a nonrefundable green fee deposit ranging from about £10-30. Nevertheless, agencies want you to prepay everything. But, what happens if you get sick? or have a sore back? or you want to go to a museum? or it's just too wet for your taste? Prepaid scheduling limits your flexibility and locks you into a schedule dictated by someone else—namely the tour operator. Your objective should be to maintain as much flexibility as possible and don't pay for anything until you have to.
Short-notice booking is easy. Foursomes and larger parties are best advised to pre-book (days or months ahead depending upon the course), BUT on many fine Scottish courses on weekdays a golf party from one to four can play with little or no advance booking. Many times you can even "walk on"—yes, even during the "high season" and EVEN as a single golfer at the Old Course in St. Andrews. Remember, Scotland and Ireland (each about the size of Maine) have hundreds of golf courses. There's good golf around virtually every corner.


Next Page


Home Introduction Fee Details Tour Analysis
More on Tours

My Advice

 How I Work Contacts
References Book Info Links